Cheshire Area for Cheshire Action

At a meeting of the CCG's Governing Body on 29 April 2015, members received a petition from a campaigning organisation called Cheshire Area for Cheshire Action. Comprising more than 4,000 signatures, the petition called for the reopening of various intermediate and respite care facilities operated by East Cheshire NHS Trust and Cheshire East Council respectively.

The petition was presented to the trust on 28 May 2015 and will be presented to the council on 23 July 2015.

In accordance with its constitution, the CCG responded formally to the petition within 28 days of receipt. The response stresses the CCG's commitment to work with partners through the Caring Together transformation programme to empower people to take the best possible care of themselves and to join up community-based health and social care, enabling people to live independently at home when it is safe to do so.

The statement describes the CCG's significant investment in community-based services in support of Caring Together, recognising that such investment will reduce reliance on institutional, bed-based care. The statement stresses that the CCG is unable to respond to specific concerns about facilities operated by providers. However, it commits the CCG to continuing to work as a member of the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board to ensure appropriate access to respite and day care facilities.